Mobile breaker



May 7, 1968 s. P. LEWIS r-:TAL

MOBILE BREAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet` 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 www MMT RJ Ll..

NNY

ATTO RNEY May 7, 1968 s. P. LEWIS ETAL.

MOBILE BREAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet :i

Filed NOV. 26, 1965 INVENTORS S/MMH J. MMM/V BY CEM MTW AT'IORNEY May 7, 1968 s. P. LEWIS x-:TAL 3,381,752

MOBILE BREAKER Filed Nov. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- .9! SAMl/fl. l? LfW/S .MMI/[L J. /V/RD/Vf @mA-X W-TW ATTQRNEY 3,381,762 MHLE BREAKER Samuel P. Lewis and Samuel l. Nardone, Phiilipsburg, NJ., assignors to Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New `lersey Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,837 9 Claims. (Cl. 173-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Wheeled, self-powered vehicle having a turntable which mounts a fluid pressure source and a tool carrying boom. The boom is pivotably mounted, and has a pivotable extensible portion which carries means for rotating the tool, and means for pivoting the tool independently through two transverse arcs.

This invention relates to apparatus for breaking or drilling hardened refractory or cementitious materials and in particular for the cracking and breaking up of refractory linings utilized in the steel making or a similar industry. In brief, the invention provides a power driven, self-contained mobile device capable of performing, with but a single operator, a lining removal operation previously performed manually or by makeshift equipment at great expenditures of time and money.

Modern steel making processes for example, are extremely hard on refractory lining materials. Because of this, the life span of refractory linings has been foreshortened considerably, necessitating frequent repair and Irelining of the vessels, furnaces, etc., used in the industry, The increased frequency of repair or relining of the mentioned articles, has pointed up the fact that the long used, manual methods of lining removal-the most diliicult part of the operation-are too time consuming and costly of both men and materials. Efforts to provide increased eciency by the use of converted excavating equipment or other makeshift mechanical devices have not been satisfactory, so that, until the advent of this present invention, the cleaning out of a steel making vessel was affected by sheer muscle power supplemented by the use of any tool or available piece of equipment which might contribute even the most limited of increased speed and eiciency to the cleaning operation.

The present invention obviates most of the preceding difficulties by providing a single mobile machine, possessed of the working flexibility and manipulative dexterity to accomplish the major -portion of the job to be done rapidly, efficiently and with a minimum of manual labor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a mobile unit for breaking up refractory hardened cementitious materials.

A further object is to provide a unitized mobile mechanism of flexible operating characteristics capable of use in removing or breaking refractory linings from metal treating vessels such as furnaces, ladles, transfer cars and the like.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a unit breaker of general utility which is capable -of a dexterity of operation enabling it to perform under a variety of conditions.

An additional object of the invention is to produce an operator controlled breaking device capable of use in a limited space.

d States Patent G ICC The specifically mentioned objects and other objects of the invention, not alluded to above, but inherent in the structure and apparent to those skilled in the art, may be accomplished by the combination of a wheeled, self-powered vehicle frame having a rotatable turntable thereon, a source of fluid pressure and an extensible boom means pivotally mounted on said turntable, said boom means including an elbow-like intermediate joint and an extendible sleeve having a tool means mounted on its terminal end and means mounting said tool means for multi-directional movement relative to said sleeve, and a plurality of fluid pressure operated motor means acting on said boom, said extendible sleeve, said tool mounting means and said tool for operating and positioning said tool at substantially every point within a spherical area generated by movement of the tool about the pivot point of said turntable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, control means is mounted on said turntable and within an operators -cab and said source of fluid pressure comprises prime movers and sources of hydraulic and pneumatic pressure and flow connected thereto and driven by at least one of said prime movers, said tool means being supplied with pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic source, said boom means being operated by hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic source.

Having described the invention in its broad concept, the operation and details thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the descriptive matter which follows in conjunction with the drawing forming a part of the specification and wherein:

FIG. l is an overall perspective view of the breaking unit showing the general arrangement thereof,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l with parts thereof removed for clarity,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view in reduced scale illustrating the degree of `maneuverability of the boom and tool,

FIG, 4 illustrates a means of extending the extendible boom sleeve,

FIG. 5 illustrates at least one means of mounting a power roll over unit on the extendible sleeve, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and top views respectively illusJ trating the tool joint connection with the extendible boom part whereby the tool may be moved universally through a maximum area at the end of the boom.

Turning now to the View of FIG. 1, it will be seen that the breaker includes, first, a wheeled vehicle frame 10 having pivotally mounted thereon a turntable 20. The vehicle frame is of conventional form including paired wheels 2 and 4, of which at least one pair is driven through the usual transmission-differential arrangement, while the other pair is Steerable. Preferably, because of increased maneuverability at the boom end, the wheels Z are driven, while wheels 4 are steerable. The frame 10 may be provided with gas tanks, batteries, etc., including weight of one form or another to give stability to the breaker and to supply power to an internal combustion engine 6 mounted thereon. In a preferred form of the invention, engine 6 supplies the motive power to wheels 2 to move the breaker from place to place and can also be used to drive one or more hydraulic pumps (not shown) whereby the boom may be operated. The vehicle wheels 4- are steerable to provide for complete maneuver ability of the unit as a vehicle. It should be noted that if desired the wheel arrangement could be reversed, i.e. wheels 2 could be driven and wheels 4 steerable when the turntable is in the position Shown in FIG. l. The vehicle frame may also be provided with extendible jack members or outriggers S and 8 usually of the double acting hydraulically operated type which may be extended into floor or ground contact to provide further lateral stability to the overall breaker unit.

Mounted, as stated, on frame 10, for complete 360 rotation about a vertical pivot axis, is turntable 20. The mounting and rotating means (not shown) is purely conventional, similar to such means commonly used for mounting and swinging a typical power crane or eX- cavator. Thus such means need not be described in detail herein.

The turntable is provided with an operator control cab 22 having the necessary steering wheel 24, change speed control 26, etc., wherein an operator may comfortably view the operation of and operate the breaker. The cab 22 is offset to one side of the turntable for such reasons as will subsequently become apparent. Further, same may be air conditioned by a conventional automotive type unit 28 shown in FIG. 1.

Turntable also carries adjacent one end edge, a completely packaged prime mover air compressor system 30. Such units are conventional, an excellent example for the present application being a 365 cfm. unit manufactured by Ingersoll-Rand Co., New York, N.Y., identified as Model IR-DR 365 rotary vane.

Also mounted on turntable 20 is a boom assembly 40 comprised of a lower boom 42 and extensible boom 44 pivotally mounted on the lower boom 42. Both the lower boom 42 and the extensible boom 44 are mounted on hinge assemblies 46, 48, respectively, for swinging movement only in a vertical plane which passes generally through the center line of the point about which turntable 20 rotates in a horizontal plane.

The lower boom 42 is generally shaped in the form of a wide, inverted V-structure with the hinge assemblies 46, 48 respectively, at the terminal ends of the arms of the V-structure. At the midpoint, or apex defined by the converging arms ofthe V-structure there is provided a pivotal connector 52 to which is attached the rod 54 of a double acting fluid motor 56. The cylinder barrel or motor 56 is pivotally connected to turntable 20 via a pair of L-shaped reaction plates 58 (only one shown), these plates also carrying the hinge assembly 46 as shown. Obviously then the telescopic movement of rod 54 into and out of the cylinder barrel of motor 56 will act to pivot the lower boom 42 about hinge assembly 46 and in the structure described the boom 42 may preferably swing through an arc of 90. Expressed in another fashion, the pivot connection between cylinder rod 54 and boom 42 moves from a true horizontal to a true vertical plane which planes intersect at the center line of hinge assembly 46.

Extending outwardly from the terminal end of boom 42 is the extensible boom 44 pivotally connected, as stated, to lower boom 42 at hinge assembly 48. Extending between the lower boom 42 and vextendible boom 44 and pivotally connected thereto at pivot points 32 and 34 is a double acting reciprocating motor 36. This motor can be operated to swing the extendible boom 44- in an arc about its connection 48 with lower boom 42. Preferably the arc of swing is from a plane in alignment with the one leg of boom 42 to 85 relative thereto downwardly from said plane.

Extendible boom 44 is generally tubular in cross-section, see FIG. 4, and includes an interior tubular extension sleeve 62 mounted therein. Sleeve 62 is supported by the interior of boom 44 by any suitable wear resistant means 64 whereby the sliding action of sleeve 62 will not produce accelerated wear of either the interior surface of boom 44 or its own exterior surface. Various arrangements to accomplish the stated function will occur to those skilled in the art, hence the specific arrangement shown is solely a means of illustrating a structure capable of producing the desired result.

Also carried within the boom 44 and partly within the sleeve 62 is a double acting, fluid motor 66 of the reciprocating, double action type having its barrel end 68 connected by brackets 72 to boom 44 and its rod end 74 connected by brackets 76 to the sleeve 62. Thus the usual linear movement of the rod end 74 of motor 66 relative to the barrel end 68 will cause the sleeve 62 to be moved axially and linearly with respect to boom 44. It has been found that the most desirable range of extension, that is the stroke of the uid motor 66 is about 7 feet, thus the overall dimension of extensible boom 44 may be varied in length from a minimum of about 17 feet to a maximum of about 24 feet, by way of example.

As shown in FIG. 5 in detail the terminal end of extensible boom 44, which is, in fact, also the outer terminal end of sleeve 62 is provided with a pair of brackets 78, 78 which embrace and are fixed, as by welding, to the exterior of the sleeeve. These brackets 78, 78 also ernbrace and engage the exterior housing of a power roll unit 70. Unit '70 is held within brackets 78, 78 by any suitable means which preferably though not necessarily, will permit removal of the roll-over unit 70 -for replacement or servicing. For example, the housing may be provided with removable collars 82 bolted thereto and to each of the brackets 78, 78'. The mounting means, per se, is not par ticularly important, except that it should prevent any sliding or axial movement of the power roll-over unit 70 relative to the brackets 7 8, 78 and sleeve 62.

The roll-over unit 70 is a commercially available unit which in brief comprises simply a reversible rotary motor having a shaft extension 84 which may turn or rotate about its own axis. Such a unit may be purchased from Ingersoll-Rand Co. of New York, N.Y., being identified as a Power Roll hydraulic actuator, 535HB. This particular unit permits angular rotation of the shaft extension of about 256 from stop to stop.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7 in particular it may be seen that shaft extension 84 is provided at its terminal end with a yoke 86, shown positioned in a vertical plane, which yoke carries upper and lower axially aligned journals 88 and 92 respectively, lined with the usual bearing liners 94, 96, respectively.

A pivot pin 98 extends between journals 88 and 92 and may be non-rotatably fixed therein by any suitable keeper means, such as set screws 102, 102.

Mounted on pin 98 for rotation relative thereto and also relative to yoke 86 is a main support member 104 which member forms one of the lever arms of a bell crank of which lugs 106, 108 projecting outwardly therefrom are the other lever arm. Lugs 106, 108 projected laterally outwardly from main support arm 104 form a pivotal connection with a piston rod 112 of a reciprocating, double acting uid motor 114 having its barrel end 116 journalled in another pair of pivot lugs 118, 122 mounted on and rigid with respect to the roll-over shaft extension 84.

The main support member or bell crank arm 104 is bifurcated and the bifurcated ends form further axially aligned journals 124, 126, also provided with wear resistant bushings 128, 132, respectively. Trunnion pin is mounted between the journals for rotary movement therein.- Intermediate of and spinning the space between the bifurcated ends of arm 104 is a split collar 134 comprised of two semi-cylindrical elements 136, 136 clamped as by flanged and tangential bolted connectors designated generally as 138, 138. Some conventional form of keying means, for example a mating serrated surface between collar halves 136 136' and the pin 130 assure rotation of the trunnion pin with the collar. The semi-cylindrical element 136 is, further, provided with laterally extending lugs 142, 142 which form a conventional pivotal mounting for one end of a tie link 144 which link is also pivotally connected to a spaced pair of anchor arms 146, 146' which in turn extend outwardly from and to one side of yoke 86 midway between the bifurcated ends 88 and 92.

With the described construction actuation of fluid motor 114 will cause support arm to pivot about pin 98. As it does so, link 144 being fixed, the rotary motion is translated into rotary motion of collar 136 through link 144 whereby the collar 136 and trunnion pin 130 are also rotated. Since the link 144 crosses over, that is, is attached to opposite sides of collar `136 and yoke 86, rotary motion of pin 130 is in the same direction as the direction of swing of the support arm 104.

This described arrangement which is also illustrated in copending application Ser. No. 346,518, tiled Feb. 21, 1964, and now Patent No. 3,263,758 enables a tiuid motor of relatively short stroke and compact size, to swing a pivoted member through a much greater arc than would otherwise be possible with a straight motor-collar connection.

A-gain considering FIG. 7, it will be seen that the upper and lower ends of trunnion pin 130 extend outwardly above and below the journals 124, 126. Fixed to these exposed ends of the pin are an upper and lower cap member 148, 152, respectively, same provided with mounting and pivot brackets 154, 156, respectively, of conventional design. Bracket 154, in turn, carries a mounting pad 158 pivotally movable on pivot pin 162. The mounting pad 158 is connected in the usual manner at 164 to the rod 166 of a double acting reciprocating uid motor 168 which extends between brackets 154 and 156 and is connected by the usual connector 172 to bracket 156 at its barrel end. Thus reciprocation of rod 166 will produce swinging movement of pad 158 about pivot 162. Turning attention now, to FIG. 1, it will be seen that mounting pad 158 supports a breaker mechanism thereon. This mechanism need not be described in minute detail., consisting generally of a suitable support 174 which c-arries a guide assembly 176. The guide assembly 176 receives thereon a pneumatic impact motor 178 which operates a pointed piercing and prying tool 182. The

motor 178 is movable longitudinally of the guides fork a distance of about four feet and preferably a suitable feeding means 184 moves same from a retracted position (shown in FIG. 1) to its extended position as the tool penetrates the material on which it is operating. The general -arrangement is, as pointed out, conventional and an excellent example of the mechanism is the Model HMB-72 breaker also manufactured by the Ingersoll- Rand Co. mentioned previously.

Considering now the overall operation of the apparatus disclosed, it is readily seen that same is completely mobile and may be readily moved from place to place. All sources of power, both hydraulic and pneumatic and as well air hoses, hydraulic lines, etc., are carried by the unit itself, the latter elements being installed as f required and during manufacture of the unit according to conventional hydraulic and pneumatic plumbing practice.

In addition the unique combination of an extensible boom 44, the lower boom 42, the power roll mechanism 70 coupled with the high degree of flexibility provided through operation of motors 126, 168, provide a dexterity of operation, FIG. 3, never before attained in a device of the type under consideration. An inspection of FIGS. l, 2 and 3 will show that the apparatus can be so maneuvered as to reach every conceivable point within reach of the maximum limits imposed, for example it can even reach underneath of itself. If `the end of tool 182 were used to generate a surface, for example, the surface would be generally spherical shaped and the tool would be capable of reaching almost every point on and within the surface except that occupied by the unit itself. Also, the breaking tool can be used for piercing, prying, breaking and a variety of operations due to the versatility of its mounting. Even more important, a single operator can operate the unit and conceivably never leave cab 22. This is extremely important because in many cases the unit will be moved into furnaces which still retain heat, even though being previously cooling for days at a time. In fact, in many cases, the residual heat is so great that the usual work crews utilizing ordinary or makeshift equipment of the type preceding to the invention must be replaced every fteen minutes to prevent heat prostration, dehydration, etc., of its members.

-It will be apparent that the ydisclosed device is susceptible of various changes and modifications which will occur to those skilled in the `art and that, while disclosed in simple elemental form, more sophisticated engineering skill may be applied. Such changes and modiications however are well within the inventive spirit aud scope which is limited only as defined in the claims, wherein what is claimed is:

1. A mobile breaker for use on a cementitious material comprising in combination a vehicle frame having a turntable thereon, a source of hydraulic pressure and a source of pneumatic pressure mounted on said turntable, boom means mounted on said turntable for pivotal movement in a vertical plane; said boom means being extensible with the extensible portion being provided with a further pivot to permit swinging motion of said portion in a vertical plane, a plurality of means carried on the terminal end of said boom means for mounting a breaker tool, for rotating said mounting means relative to said boom means, for pivoting said mounting means in a first arc, and for pivoting said breaker tool in an arc transverse to said lirst arc, and a plurality of motor means operative- Iy connected to said boom means, said extensible portion, and said mounting, rotating, and pivoting plurality of means whereby said tool may be moved to substantially any one of a plurality of positions relative to a volume of space embraced within a generally spherical bowlshaped surface surrounding the mobile breaker and generated by movement of the tool relative to said pivotalmovement mounting of said boom means.

2. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle frame includes a prime mover means for propelling same and said turntable carries the sources of hydraulic and pneumatic pressure which comprise hydraulic and pneumatic pumps and prime mover means for said pumps.

3. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 2 wherein said prime mover means for said pumps comprises an internal combustion engine driving each pump individually.

4. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool mounting means includes a yoke carried by said boom, a support arm swingably connected to said yoke, a trunnion pin carried by said support arm, means mounted on said pin connected to the tool permitting swinging movement of said tool about an axis normal to the axis of said pin and a rigid link means between said yoke and said pin mounted means and pivotally connected thereto whereby swinging movement of said support arm produces rotary movement of said tool about the axis of said pin.

5. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 4 wherein said link is connected to one side of said yoke and to the opposite side of said pin mounted means.

6. A breaker device as dened in claim 4 wherein said tool comprises an elongated guide means Supported on said trunnion pin and a pneumatic motor mounted on said guide means for longitudinal movement thereon and pneumatic means for moving said motor relative to said guide means.

7. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 4 including double acting motor means acting between said boom and said support arm said tool guide and said pin mounted tool mounting means imparting swinging movement to said arm relative to said boom and said tool relative to said arm.

8. A mobile breaker as defined in claim 4 including means carried by the boom and carrying in turn said yoke whereby said yoke may be rotated about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the axis of said boom.

9. In a breaker tool having a boom, the improvement comprising a motor having rotary shaft, said shaft ter- 7 8 minating in a yoke, a support arm mounted on said yoke References Cited for pivotal movement relative thereto, a tool carrying UNITED STATES PATENTS means pivotally mounted on said support arm and sepa rate motor means connecting said yoke directly to said tool carrying means whereby said tool carrying means is 5 rotatable in a rst arc in response to pivotal movement ERNEST R' PURSER Primary Examiner. of said support arm relative to said yoke, and said tool is rotatable in a second arc transverse to said first arc in FRED C' MATTERN Exammer' response to actuation of said separate motor means. L. P. KESSLER, AsssiantExamner.

3,333,646 8/1967 Hoen et al. 173--38 X 3,346,300 10/1967 Grant 299-70 

